Your resume will usually be the first impression that a potential employer will get from you, so make sure you go to great lengths to make that first impression a positive one. You definitely want to set yourself apart from your competition, but not in a bad way.

The following are some tips on how to make the best impression with your resume.

Spelling and grammar. Make sure there isn’t a single mistake on your resume. Employers usually have a hard time narrowing the applicants down to those few that they want to interview, so they look for any reason to exclude someone from the process.

Show that you’re well-rounded. Your resume is a great way to show a potential employer that you’re involved in a variety of activities both in and out of school and that you use your time effectively.

Tailor your cover letter. Make sure that you send a cover letter with your resume and that it relates directly to that company and the position you’re applying for. The cover letter should tell them that you’re familiar with their organization and why (with specific examples) you would be the best choice for the position. This not only gives you the chance to promote you’re most applicable qualities, but it will also show them that you’re not just interested in any job or internship with any company, but that you want to work for them.

Keep it concise. Since the interviewer will have a lot of resumes to go through, they’ll most likely be turned off by a multiple page document. Try to keep your resume to one page at 10-12 point type and include only relevant information.

Proofread. Have someone (or several people) proofread your resume, not only for grammatical or spelling errors, but to make sure it flows logically and is a quick, easy read.